Episode · SmartLess · 2022-07-18
James Burrows on SmartLess: every book mentioned
James a.k.a. “Jimmy” Burrows (co-creator of Cheers and prolific television director of shows such as Taxi, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, the list goes on and on…) surprises us this week to share endless stories from his early career through numerous hit TV shows.
Sean Hayes discussed Breakfast at Tiffany's by Sarah Gristwood and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser. James Burrows discussed All About Me! by Mel Brooks.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Breakfast at Tiffany's
Discussed“one of his earliest jobs was an assistant stage manager for a play adaptation of the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's”
Where to get it
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How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Discussed“when I mention your father was a Burroughs who amongst many other great things broke Guys and Dolls won the Pulitzer Prize for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying both massive gigantic massive hits on Broadway”
Where to get it
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All About Me!
Discussed“So I got a—I called my agency and they put me in touch with a literary guy who had just written the Mel Brooks book, a guy named Eddie Freefeld, who's a big fan of comedy.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Directed by James Burrows
“you have this new gigantic book that's out now that's called directed by James Burrows five Decades of stories from the legendary director of Taxi cheers Frasier friends Will and Grace and tons more”
Plugged Directed by James Burrows
“You have this new gigantic book that's out now called Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and tons more!”
Passing Gone with the Wind
“he would come out I saw him once come out sit down in a chair and start start reading Gone with the Wind until you left”
Passing Gone with the Wind
“He would come out, I saw him once come out, sit down in a chair, and start reading Gone with the Wind until you left! He didn't care, it was three minutes, very well... it's very well...”